Chapter 6
Phoebe tentatively pulled the door open, surprised when she acknowledged the individual who stood before her, all dressed up. "Link, what are you doing here?"
Phoebe stepped aside, allowing her boyfriend to enter their household, giving her the chance to properly look him over. He was dressed in a long sleeved white shirt, over-layed by a dark grey waistcoat, and black jeans asserted by polished black shoes.
"Sorry for coming so late and unannounced, but..." he pulled out a card, which from the looks of things appeared important, handing it to Phoebe.
"Reservation for two at, François?" she read, almost disbelievingly, clearly having knowledge of the high class restaurant.
"It's a last minute gift from my mother. The reservation is due tonight. I didn't want it to go to waste." Link explained, watching Max hoist himself from the couch.
Phoebe hesitated, turning to glance at Max who was busy shaking his head, probably judging Link's choice of clothing. A late night date at François, the notion itself was romantic and welcoming, since its not everyday you get invited for dinner at a fancy restaurant.
She smiled thinly, knowing she had no choice but to decline the offer. "Link, this is great and all, but-"
"Phoebe." Max interrupted sternly, sending her a putrid stare. "What do you think you're doing? François have the best shrimp in town, and this will probably be the only chance you get."
Link looked between the two, obviously sensing the reluctance in Phoebe, who probably by the look of things didn't want to leave her twin all by himself.
Max saw the upheld hesitancy before he rolled his eyes. "Pheebs, just go enjoy yourself." he said, "I swear on your life that I won't throw a party."
That wasn't what she was worried about, but she eventually caved and nodded, knowing she didn't have a say in the matter. "Alright fine, just give me a moment to get myself ready, I won't be long." She quickly hurried upstairs, leaving the two to themselves.
Max clicked his tongue. "Dude, are you seriously taking your girlfriend out to a fancy restaurant wearing this?"
Link frowned, looking himself over. "What's wrong with the way I dress?" He couldn't see what his outfit lacked, suffice to say he cleaned up very well.
"You look like a valet, that's what." he said simply, clutching the taller boy by the collar, pulling him through the hallway towards his lair, ignoring the protests.
"What did I get myself into?"
"Stop complaining, you look awesome."
"But I don't feel that way because I nearly look like you." Link softly patted his hair. "Especially my hair, what do you call it again?"
"Swoosh, it's a swoosh, version one-point-oh; you have shorter hair than mine."
"And this jacket-"
"Makes you look badass, final."
"And the shoes-"
"Are called sneakers for pete's sake, what world do you live in?"
Max stood up, smirking to himself. He rounded around Link to inspect anything out of place, mentally giving himself a pat on the back for his fine work. He had removed Link's waistcoat, replacing it with a black leather jacket instead, including the classic shoes he wore in favour of high cut black sneakers.
"I don't think Phoebe will like this, she'll probably think I look silly."
"That's because Phoebe doesn't have good taste in men. Which explains why she's with you but you win some, you lose some." Max quipped. "Plus, she's a girl, what does she know?"
Link merely shook his head, inwardly pitying whoever ends up dating Max. They cleared the hallway and into the lounge, to hear a clicking noise on the wooden staircase, compelling both boys to angle their heads to gaze at one descending Phoebe Thunderman.
She wore a black dress, littered with small diamonds that glistened in the light, including a strap-on black rose sidelined to her right hip. Dark brown hair cascading on both shoulders, a thin string adorning white beads around her neck, probably complimenting her white purse, last but not least, her heels, simple yet leathery elegant.
Link swallowed, Phoebe looked stunning, more than stunning, she looked beautiful! Disbelief scrubbed at his conscience, momentarily forgetting the fact he was her date, her boyfriend. He immediately shoved the impervious thoughts out of his mind, reminding himself he was the lucky guy that was taking her out on a date to a restaurant for a very expensive dinner that was already paid for and reserved for them.
As Phoebe stepped down the stairs, she stopped before the slide door behind her, nervously scratching her purse with a fingernail, eyes travelling toward the two rooted boys openly staring at her. Even through the drastic change of what he originally wore, Phoebe instantly spotted Link, him being taller a simple contributing factor to that.
Yet her eyes lingered on Max, who didn't bother masking his astonished expression, vehemently running his gaze along her undiluted figure.
"How do I look?"
Max clenched his jaw, knowing the inquiry was directed towards him given her eyes never left his for some reason he couldn't fathom. But nonetheless, self admittance to the fact she looked beautiful wasn't hard pressed. He couldn't believe his nerdy sister could pull this off - so alluring and majestically appealing.
It was a silent moment that lapsed between the three, recognised by Max, who harshly nudged Link causing the older boy to sputter into verbal coherency.
"You look, wow! You look-beautiful." he momentarily stammered, swallowing an audible lump when she nodded and continued her descend, prompting him to regard himself and questioningly glance at Max. "Max, I still don't think this is-"
"Stop worrying, no one will notice."
Phoebe stepped before them, smiling as she looked her boyfriend over. "You changed."
Link allowed a tentative nod. "Yeah,"
"You look handsome, in that jacket." Phoebe pointed out, her eyes making her way to his hair top. "but the hair is a dead give away, it literally screams 'courtesy of Max'."
Link glared at a snickering Max, before making way for the bathroom. As soon as he left, an immediate residue of awkwardness marked its presence around the twins, probably reflecting in their own right of what nearly transpired had Link not interrupted them earlier.
Phoebe cleared her throat, fishing into her purse, brandishing a hair pin and a small rubber twine, outstretching her hand towards him. He read her actions as he took the items from her hand and turned to step around her.
She smelled great, he deduced the pleasant fragrance swirling around her was probably a new perfume she bought. Too lost up in his thoughts as he tied her hair into a visible ponytail to avouch the way she tensed when his fingers momentarily brushed against her neck. Max motioned her to turn, brushing the braids of hair to the side, clasping them together between the pin mechanism, which brought out more of her face.
"You never told me how I look."
His eyes fell to expectant orbs, wondering why she would bring that up now, and why she needed his opinion of her attire in the first place.
"I think what your boyfriend said fit the bill perfectly," he replied with a careless shrug.
"I know, but I want to hear what you think." she prodded, frowning at the lack of audience and meaningful response from him.
"Why?"
"Max, can't you just this once, honestly compliment me, just this once?" she intently asked with mild annoyance.
"You look great, I guess."
Her eyebrows nearly met by a miniature inch. "That's it?"
"Well, what did you expect?" he retorted with a scoff.
"Oh I don't know, maybe something along the lines of beautiful, pretty, stunning."
"Pfft, you wish."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm a hundred percent sure you're gonna use that against me in the future."
"I won't,"
"Yeah right."
"I swear I won't."
"I still won't say it."
She visibly scowled, before a devious thought struck her mind as she lashed out to pull on his nearest earlobe full well knowing he had sensitive ears.
"Ow, ow, ow! Phoebe, let go!"
"Not until you say I look beautiful and stunning."
"N-never!"
Her response was to jerk on his ear harder compelling him to release a girly whimper, biting his lip to contain the impending shrieks of pain, failing miserably when it was too much for him to bear.
"Alright, you win! You win! I'll say it! I'll say it!"
She let his ear go, a triumphant smile gracing her glossy lips.
He winced as he carefully nursed his throbbing ear, glaring at her when he regarded her exultant smile. "Tch, I still won't say it." he mumbled, regretting it when she threateningly raised her arm. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding!"
She crossed her arms.
"You, look stunning."
"And?" she prodded him, with a slight shake of her head.
"I just said you're stunning. What more do you want from me?" he argued in protest, until he noticed her downtrodden, pleading expression. He scowled, running a hand through his hair, oddly finding it awkward and blaming it on Link who for some reason was taking too long simply rinse his hair and comb it back into its natural state.
A clearing of a throat persuaded him to raise his gaze, into her eyes. His hand rose to his mouth, a soft cough to ease himself and rid of the apprehension. "You are..look beautiful."
Phoebe's smile slowly but surely widened, reaching her eyes, thankful she applied make-up to conceal the temporary red freckles that diagonally landed on her cheeks accompanied by alien warmth. "That wasn't so hard, now was it?"
He shook his head sideways, only to find himself gaping when he felt lips softly push against his cheek, his vision a bit blurry, refocusing it to regard her already stepping back.
"Thanks."
He cleared his throat, rubbing away at the cheek she just kissed. "Yeah, just don't get used to it."
They heard Link step down the stairs with his hairstyle intact. "Right, I'm done, let's go." he said, directing a firm nod towards Max, moving out of the open front door, leaving the two twins with mere seconds to themselves.
"Make sure you lock the door."
He offered a mock salute. "Yes, mom!"
She stood still for a moment, pertaining her eyes to his prominent playful smirk, meeting his eyes, not finding fault with awkwardly hugging him, quickly stepping back with a falter, and a shaky smile.
"I promise I won't be long." she spewed unconsciously, but he nodded, sparing her from embarrassment.
"You should probably go," he asserted.
She fully stepped out of the door. The door knob was in his grasp, in a motion of a forward momentum to close it.
"Wait!"
He frowned, slightly holding it ajar.
"What now?"
"I'm... I am your Empress, right?"
"Of course not." he retorted with a knowing smirk, their playful banter returning at a time it wasn't needed.
"And you love me?" she asked, a small smile apparent on her lips.
"Take a wild guess."
She released a slow chuckle accompanied by a nod, before completely disappearing out of view.